What backup program should I use?

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It depends on how you burn things to CD, but the first thing to do is simple:
don't delete them from your hard disk until you're certain they're all safely
on CDs. THAT means making sure you can see the pictures from those cds on
another computer.

If you use CD burning software it'll tell you when you've put too many on the
CD before you burn it. Burn what will fit, keep track of what's been burned and
repeat, using as many CDs as you need to back up all your pictures.

If you're just using Windows Explorer to copy files, it'll stop when the CD
runs out of room. Again, just keep track of what's been copied, and use
multiple CDs to backup all your pictures.

Leo

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If you have not tested the recovery or restore process of the backup system you are using, then you essentially DO NOT HAVE a backup. I have seen too many sad faces from people who diligently made backups, but the inevitable computer crash came, and they were not able to restore their backup data because it was in a proprietary format and they had no idea how to gain access to it. Windows NT Backup is the classic example of boneheaded backup formats. Also make sure that your backup process does not copy the user and security information of the NT, W2k, and XP files. I've seen users that stuck an extra hard disk in their computers to make copies of their important files, but the computer crashed, and of course the hard disk backup is not readable by any other computer except the one that just blew up (because of the NTFS file security features). The moral is: TEST your backup data in a separate computer.

Fortunately, most current backup programs store data in standard zipped format, or in uncompressed copies, and do not store the user security settings of each file.

SyncBack is my favorite backup program, but it is a full-featured program that does a lot more than just backup. Make sure you understand what your backup program is doing because it is easy for a newbie to overwrite or delete files they did not intend to lose.

Be exceedingly careful if you are using the built-in Windows file encryption feature for any of your files. Be sure you can restore and read the backup you made of any encrypted files on a different computer.

Hello, in backing up and the CD is full, how does it know where to start the next CD to finish the copying? I have Microsoft Word. Thanks, too bad you don't live close to Minneapolis. I'm going poor, having the Best-Buy Geek squad over at 170.00 per visit. (Hour) Thanks, Doug!

Doug;

The answer to the question you asked depends on whether you are manually burning files to CD, or if you are using a backup program that knows how to use multiple CD's for the backup medium. If you are using intelligent backup software, then you just tell it what to back up, 'My Documents' for example, and the software will tell you when to place blank CD's in the tray, and do the burning automatically.

If you are just burning files to CD, then YOU have to select a group of files that will fit on the CD, keep track of which files have been backed up, and keep selecting groups of files until all the files you want backed up are finally on CD's.

The problem here is that Backing up to multiple CD's can be tiresome and inefficient. It is easy to lose track of where you are, and it is not easy to find files on your CD collection when you need to fetch a particular file.

I suggest you take stock of what you need to back up. If you have a static collection of files, say a set of digital images, that will fit on a few CD's, then burning to CD's will be sufficient. If your work documents add up to less than 15gb, then a flash stick of sufficient size will be work. If you have more to back up, then an external hard drive is your best bet. Either of these beats the pants off CD's for routine backup needs, and the costs are less than one Geek Squad visit.

You only need to back up the files you create, such as your word documents. It is useless to back up all the other stuff on your computer such as the Windows operating system files and all the program files because you can't use them or restore them.

Hope this helps.

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Douglas: you didn't say *how* you're backing up. But most
backup programs just handle that automatically.

Leo

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It is far easier and more efficient to make an image of your OS partition with Acronis or Drive Image and to restore your drive with this back-up image when necessary.This is a quite fast and reliable method of restore and also protects and preserves settings,connections,and any installed programs.Further benefits can also be gained by saving an image of a "virgin install" and using it to "start fresh" if need be,as this is much faster than normal OS installs.I highly recommend use of these imaging methods for ALL computer owners and users.Making images of other partitions and data is also a very useful tool for complete backup and safety of your computer.You can save these image files on DVD,an external drive,on other drives or all for multiple backup with ease.Imaging as such will save you many hours and bring your systems back in a flash...Be sure to make an Bootable Recovery Disk and keep this in safe storage with your image disks.I have used Acronis for years on my clients computers with virtually no problems and have ALWAYS been able to fully restore completely with no loss of systems or data!!!

i think i will be a wise thing to have a backup copy of all your important data on a CD and also a backup copy in a portable memory stick(Pen drive).

Professor Asus' comments (postd jan 4'08) were *so*helpful!! i just bought a simpletech external harddrive (320gb) and was checking out the data backup software that it came with (arcsoft total media backup & record). it has an seemingly easy interface but i was starting to get pretty frustrated trying to understand how to backup and what to backup. i looked up the Acronis True Image software that Prof Asus recommended and it sounds like exactly what i want. thanks! http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.com/acronis-true-image-review.html

Dear, Leo
Can I and if so can I just backup windows updates? Is the NTBackup Backup/Restore that comes with windows ok for home backup? I have only one computer for home use Windows XP Home SP2.
Thanks,

Don

Leo, can I use the Internet via DSL, to copy data files from my laptop (Vista) to my desktop PC (WinXP-SP2) or vice-versa? Using what program?
I have mostly photos, under 1000.

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